Leading Teen Mental Hospital Supports Suicide Prevention Month

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For Suicide Prevention Month ViewPoint Center offers insight and advice on recognizing and helping teens who might be suicidal

“It’s important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation in order to get their teens the help they need before it’s too late,”commented Jennifer Wilde, Executive Clinical Director of ViewPoint Center.

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB)September 15, 2015

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, for young people between the ages of 10 and 24, approximately 4600 take their own lives per year. A nationwide survey of youth in grades 9-12 found that 16 percent had at some point seriously considered suicide.

It is crucial for teenagers to recognize the signs and symptoms of suicidal thoughts before it’s too late, because oftentimes it is.

ViewPoint Center is observing Suicide Prevention Month by helping parents identify symptoms of suicidal behavior and providing teens with the coping mechanisms they need to overcome suicidal thoughts. As a teen mental health hospital, ViewPoint Center recognizes that suicide amongst teenagers is a growing issue that needs to be addressed as swiftly as possible.

ViewPoint Center advises parents to look out for the following symptoms for suicide prevention:

-Talking about negative thoughts. Teens may start talking about killing themselves, having no reason to live or feeling as though they are a burden to others. They may also discuss feelings of isolation or unbearable pain.
-Behaving out of character. Teens with suicidal thoughts may abuse drugs and alcohol more, act recklessly, withdraw from previously enjoyed activities,or lash out in aggression. Changes in sleeping and eating patterns are also oftentimes associated with suicidal thoughts and feelings.
-Looking for methods of suicide. Teens may seek out means and methods to carry out the act by buying a gun, building a stockpile of pills, or searching online for ways to commit suicide.
-Displaying changes in mood. Teens considering suicide often display moods such as irritability, sadness, rage, and anxiety. They may have extreme mood swings, shifting from cheeriness to sadness in a short period of time.
-Tying up loose ends. Suicidal teens may start saying goodbyes to loved ones, or giving away prized belongings.

“It’s important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation in order to get their teens the help they need before it’s too late,”commented Jennifer Wilde LCSW, Executive Clinical Director of ViewPoint Center. “As a teen mental health hospital, we work with teens struggling with suicidal thoughts frequently, and because of this, we recognize the signs and can offer expert advice for parents of struggling teens.”

Teens displaying symptoms of suicidal thoughts or intentions need to get help immediately. If a parent feels as though their child is in immediate danger of suicide, they should call the suicide prevention hotline at 1 (800) 273-8255. Additionally, they may consider getting help from a local therapist or a teen mental health hospital like ViewPoint Center where teens can get the assessment and treatment they need.

To help treat teens struggling with suicidal thoughts, ViewPoint Center encourages teens to develop coping skills such as breathing exercises, meditation, and other relaxation techniques. Teens are also supported by a network of loved ones and staff members to guide them through feelings leading to suicidal thoughts and actions.

“At our mental health hospital, We help teens dealing with suicidal thoughts replace those negative thoughts and feelings with a healthier perspective and outlook on life”, says Britten Lamb LCSW, Clinical Director of the ViewPoint Center. “We also assist with medication management. If teens aren’t responding to the coping mechanisms we provide for them, we might look at having medications adjusted or changed.”

By providing the best care for teens, the ViewPoint Center helps teens struggling with suicidal thoughts prepare for the next chapter in their lives, whether that be in another therapeutic program or back home.

If your teen is struggling with suicidal thoughts, consider looking into the following resources: